Constant internet connection for PC/Smartphone/Xbox Live while driving?

Many folks try the Virgin Wireless unlimited plan? It is a CDMA network (piggybacked on Sprint), and is $40 unlimited...the Mi-Fi seems pretty nice...then again I did hear that since they changed the pricing, they slowed down a lot!! Maybe it will speed back up!!

I was thinking that the USB wireless dongle, if plugged into an extension cable, might be more flexible on mounting location....you could even shrink wrap it, and stick it outside (maybe on a spare CB fiberglass antenna when not driving) to get a stronger signal (some do have a port on them for a secondary antenna, so this may be simpler)!!
Then Again, the Mi-Fi sounds more ideal...just let it run while driving...and you wireless stuff can run...laptop, I-POD, etc....no tether needed, and no need to drain you cell phone battery!

I do currently use Verizon...they have a great network...but their prices match it....so I'm not sure I want to step up to a full Data plan/separate devise...when I can get a second item...and have 2 separate networks...so I am more likely to have a good strong signal, and good download speed.

I would second the fact that playing first person shooters by a cell connection will be impossible....just too much latency (delay).

 

I understand that...that's why I'm saying he should call VZW. We're paying the same price for service and he's getting charged overages. Time to get the "unlimited" plan on there which is still capped at 5Gigs.

 

If you plan to do the free tethering hack you can't atm. The droid X is gonna take a while to hack. They installed a E-fuse on that model to prevent it from being hacked. If anyone attempts to toy with the bootloader, the e-fuse blows, bricking the phone and will refuse to operate until an approved software is reinstalled on it. Its the same deal that they did with newer Xboxes.

 

How long have you had your VZW broadplan plan? You can't get true "unlimited" from them anymore regardless if he calls or not. I have an uncapped (grandfathered) card that I refuse to give up, but as far as I know any plan that you can order up these days will be capped at 5G without incurring overages.

 

Yup.

They've got me scared to mess with it. There's always a way to hack in if you do your homework and are tenacious enough. At this point though I'm loving this phone and it isn't important enough for me to risk bricking it.

 

Yup, you can't get an aircard without that 5gb cap on it. The data plan on my phone is unlimited so I can tether that and get away with it, for now. If you read the contracts, it says that you are not allowed to tether it, though. They just don't enforce it. It'd be pretty hard to get away with enforcing it since their whole sales pitch, including their commercials, revolves around telling people how great it is to tether the phone and get unlimited data. If they run low on bandwidth, better believe they will.

 

What does atm mean? As far as I know, all I do is download an application(forgot the name) that lets you tether....is this considered hacking?

 

No, it's just an app. Depending on your contract, it could put you in violation of the terms of service, though.

atm = at the moment

 

I upgraded my device in January so they put me on the "Unlimited", 5Gig CAPPED plan. I had an uncapped plan prior to that, but my USB aircard went haywire on me, so I could either pay $250 for the MiFi and keep my uncapped plan or get the MiFi for free. Had I had the $250, I would have chosen the former.

 

Go to wilson electronics (google search)
They make systems specifically for motor homes (ya know those folks like their TV while driving) commercial buses and trucks. creates an in cab/vehicle wifi network.
I have used one of their older, cable to card units at my place in the blue ridge. I have zero cell signal without it and 3G with it.
Max